Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-12
THE ACCIDENT SEEKER.

THE ACCIDENT SEEKER.
1t was with anything but satisfaction
that l found myself compelled, a few
weeks ago, to make night journey from
Skanesville TO Newton Centres. The firm
for which travel was bent on opening I'D
new territory" and had sent me out as
pioneer. Skanesvile had not developed
any considerable desire for our goods, and,
as its alleged best hotel offered a most
undesirable compound Of bad food and
worse beds, l determined TO effect my
escape as soon rs possible To call Skanes-
willie cross road town. would be gross
fiattery, for il there ia such a term as a
''cross ten road town" then Skanesville is
entitled to that designation II had been
difhcult place to get to, but study of
railroad guides showed IL was even a more
difficult place to leave This was prob
ably the principal reason Of the growth of
the town-a fact on which the Skanesvill-
ties were given to boasting Two trains
left this inland paradise daily, at the
convenient hours of ll:30 p m and
40 a. m. To get to Newton
Centres ] found l should have to
Change three times on the night train. and
four on the early morning one As had
two heavy sample trunks. | chose the
former All Skanesville seened to 90 to
bed at 9, So. shortly after that hour,
went down TO the depot, hoping to find
the ticket agent n little livelier compan-
Ion. In this l was disappointed, a. he
combined the Offices of station master,
ticket seller and porter. In the latter ca
pacity. he had shortly before wrestled
with my trunks, and, when he unhappily
recognized me as their proprietor, he
crushed severely all my attempts at IA
misiarty. So | sat and smoked, and
walked and smoked till the train arrived,
which it naturally did about forty-five
minutes late. \ sleeping car WAS an un-
known luxury on that road so had the
prospect "f pleasant sit up varied by
the numerous waits and changes in store
for me. Fortunately, though the car was
pretty well filled, ! found two uuoccupied
seats. and, having had one turned over,
proceeded to make myself rs comfortable
"a possible, and tried to catch a nap. NV
comparative ease was short lived, for at the
next stopping place several people got on
board. and though pretended to pe asleep.
one unfecling individual came aud sat
himself ON such portion Of the front seat
rs my feet left uncovered watched
him through my almost closed eyelids, and
did not like his aspect, Something. | did
not quite know what, gave his counte-
nance a sinister look. As he had moved
toward the seat, | noticed that he limped
slightly in his walk. There was certainly
n kind of what the Scotch term "uncanni-
ness" about him, and after few minutes
l took my feet from the seat. pretended
to rouse up. and mumbled n word of
apology about having taken mp so much
room. The stranger begged me nof to
mention it, and suggested that my feet
did not inconvenience him. The steady
glare with which he seemed To he regard
ing me soon became so unpleasant that I
proposed he should have the seat turned
over. and thus avoii the disagreeableness
of sitting with his back to the locomotive
II don't mind that n bit" he said: .'be-
sides it, more dangerous
More dangerous repeated in as
constituent.
''les; haven't you noticed that in the
sleepers they always make mp the berths
with the feet 10 the locomotive, That's
because ii there's sudden jerk you are
thrown forward. Now If your heads
against the forward partition, you proba-
biN- III case tl scclutHt. nave Your Skull
split or break your neck"
Then aren't You afraid Of sitting that
way" asked.
No, | like il"
began 10 fear that I had got into the
company Of a lunatic. knew there was
An asylum somewhere in the neighbor-
hood. This mans looks, particularly in
the one eye on which the dim light of the
L., s,lI E,t =, .~l
/ had read WAS characteristic OF the mad
man. And he never took that eye OF me.
again nearly closed my eyes and pre-
tended 10 lie trying 10 sleep, but all the
time was keeping "a sharp look out lest
he should develop any violent tendencies.
Soon the road bed began to get so rough
that a succession of sharp jerks nearly
threw me of the seat. Pretense at sleep
was no longer possible. so sat up, rubbed
my eyes and remarked:
This is a pretty rough road"
You can bet it's about the worst I
Know in the whole country That's why
I'm working ii. But Charley Hicks is
driving tonight and he's So careful I'm
afraid there isn't any chance"
There was no longer any doubt that the
man WAS mad. I glanced round the car
which could conveniently move. There
was not l had heard it was always best
10 humor maniacs, so thought l would
draw him out.
1T seems to me as il you wouldn't
mind being in an accident" | began.
Mind il. that's what I'm looking for.
Do you think I'd ride on this miserable
road for anything else,"
WAS clearly in for it now. must keep
him talking and interested.
Why do You want an accident'' l
asked. expecting him to tell me how he
loved TO hear the timbers smashing, the
glass splinteriug, and fairly reveled over
the scene of horror and suffering
Il live on EN-" he calmly answered,
'but this internal road seems TO have a
Crudge against me. I've been working 1t
for two months and must have spent nigh
on TO n hundred dollars for tickets, and
haven't made cent. Only last week
there was Il beautiful smash up to this
very train, and would you believe it,
was almost the only passenger who wasn't
badly hurt"
Twas just about to congratulate him on
his escape when l unfortunately remem.
bered his mental condition. and checked
myself in time.
How do you manage to live on acci
dents" inquired.
Because I'm insured OF course, II
don't pay every one To get insured. It's
all a lottery, but so far I've been very for
tunate. Do you see that leg:' he said,
pokinC his right out toward me.
Il do
Feel the ankle and the foot"
Row, had no desire to investigate hi
anatomy, but, as was still uncertain If
his responsibility, complied
1T feels pretty hard" observed. after
lingering it very gently.
Don't be afraid Of hurting me-" he
said: Its wood
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